Kerala NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy: Last Chance to Register Before October 20

If you did not secure a seat in the first three rounds of Kerala's NEET UG counselling, the stray vacancy round offers a final opportunity to claim an available MBBS or BDS position. The Consortium for Educational Counselling (CEE) Kerala has opened registration and option entry for this round, with the registration window closing on October 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM. Candidates must act quickly to register, review the vacancy list, and submit their college preferences before the deadline passes.

What is the Kerala NEET UG stray vacancy round and who can apply?

The stray vacancy round is the final phase of Kerala's NEET UG counselling process. It fills seats that remain empty after the first three rounds of allotment in both government and self-financing medical and dental colleges. This round gives candidates who were not allotted a seat earlier—or who chose not to accept their previous allotment—one more chance to secure admission.

However, not all candidates are eligible. If you were already allotted a seat in Phase I, II, or III, or if you are currently admitted and continuing in that status, you cannot participate in the stray vacancy round. Similarly, if you vacated your seat after October 7, 2026, at 10:00 AM, or if you were allotted a seat through the All-India Quota (AIQ) stray allotment, you are ineligible. The key rule: only candidates without an active allotment from previous rounds can apply.

Important dates for the Kerala stray vacancy round

The stray vacancy counselling follows a tight timeline. Registration and option entry began on October 17, 2026, and the window to submit your preferences closes on October 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM. This gives you only a few days to complete the process. After the deadline, CEE Kerala will process your choices and publish a provisional allotment list on October 21, followed by the final allotment on October 22.

Once allotment results are announced, you will have from October 23 to 26, 2026, to join your allotted college and pay the required fees. Colleges must then update your admission details in the online system by October 26. Missing any of these deadlines could result in forfeiture of your seat, so mark these dates clearly and plan accordingly.

• Option entry window closes: October 20, 2026, 6:00 PM
• Provisional allotment published: October 21, 2026
• Final allotment published: October 22, 2026
• Joining period: October 23–26, 2026
• College admission data update deadline: October 26, 2026

How to register and enter your college preferences

To participate in the stray vacancy round, visit the official CEE Kerala website at cee.kerala.gov.in and use the 'Stray Vacancy Option Registration' link. Before you register, download and carefully review the vacancy list, which shows exactly how many seats are available in each government and self-financing MBBS and BDS college. This list is critical—it tells you which colleges have openings and helps you make informed choices.

When entering your preferences, list colleges in order of your priority. The allotment algorithm will match you to the highest-ranked college on your list where a seat is available based on your NEET rank and category. Remember: once you are allotted a seat through the stray vacancy round, you cannot change it under any circumstances. This finality means you must think carefully about your choices before submitting them.

• Visit cee.kerala.gov.in and click 'Stray Vacancy Option Registration'
• Download the vacancy list to see available seats
• Enter colleges in strict order of preference
• Submit before October 20, 2026, 6:00 PM
• Note: stray vacancy seats cannot be changed after allotment

Registration fees for the stray vacancy round

CEE Kerala charges a registration fee to participate in the stray vacancy counselling. The fee depends on which type of colleges you wish to apply to. If you are applying only to government MBBS or BDS colleges, the fee is ₹10,000. If you want to apply to both government and self-financing colleges, the fee increases to ₹25,000. Candidates belonging to the SC, ST, or OEC (Other Eligible Category) categories pay a reduced fee of ₹5,000 regardless of college type.

Pay this fee during the registration process on the website. Ensure you have the correct amount ready and that your payment is processed before the October 20 deadline. Without successful fee payment, your registration will not be complete, and you will not be eligible for allotment.

• Government MBBS/BDS only: ₹10,000
• Government + Self-financing MBBS/BDS: ₹25,000
• SC/ST/OEC category: ₹5,000
• Payment must be completed before October 20, 2026, 6:00 PM

What happens after you submit your preferences?

After the option entry window closes on October 20, CEE Kerala will run the allotment algorithm using your preferences and NEET rank. A provisional allotment list will be published on October 21, 2026. Check this list to see if you have been allotted a seat and which college it is. The final allotment will be published the next day, October 22, 2026, which is the official confirmation of your seat.

If you are allotted a seat, you must join the college and pay the required fees between October 23 and 26, 2026. Bring your allotment memo, which will specify the exact fees and any balance due. Failure to join within this window will result in automatic cancellation of your seat. The college will then update your admission details in the online system by October 26.

• Provisional allotment: October 21, 2026
• Final allotment: October 22, 2026
• Check your allotment status on cee.kerala.gov.in
• Join college and pay fees: October 23–26, 2026
• College updates your details: by October 26, 2026

Key eligibility restrictions you must know

CEE Kerala has set clear eligibility rules to prevent candidates from participating in multiple rounds simultaneously or unfairly. If you are currently admitted and continuing in a seat from Phase I, II, or III, you cannot apply for the stray vacancy round. This rule ensures that seats go to candidates who genuinely need them. Similarly, if you were allotted a seat in Phase III but have not yet joined, you are still ineligible for the stray vacancy round.

Another critical restriction: if you vacated your seat after October 7, 2026, at 10:00 AM, you lose eligibility for the stray vacancy round. This rule prevents candidates from gaming the system by abandoning a seat to try for a 'better' one in the stray round. Additionally, if you were allotted a seat through the AIQ stray allotment (managed by the Medical Counselling Committee), you cannot participate in Kerala's stray vacancy round. Always verify your eligibility before registering.

• Cannot apply if already admitted and continuing from Phase I, II, or III
• Cannot apply if allotted in Phase III (even if not yet joined)
• Cannot apply if you vacated your seat after October 7, 2026, 10:00 AM
• Cannot apply if allotted through AIQ stray allotment
• Verify your eligibility status before registering

Why the stray vacancy round matters for your MBBS or BDS admission

For many NEET aspirants, the stray vacancy round is the last realistic opportunity to secure an MBBS or BDS seat in Kerala. If you did not match in the first three rounds, this round gives you access to seats that have become available due to other candidates' withdrawals or rejections. While the number of seats in a stray round is typically smaller than in earlier phases, the competition is also lower because fewer candidates are eligible.

The stray vacancy round is also your chance to secure a seat in a college you may not have been able to access earlier. With fewer candidates competing and a fresh pool of available seats, your rank might now qualify you for a college that was previously out of reach. This is why careful review of the vacancy list and strategic preference ordering are so important—you may have more options than you realize.

• Final opportunity to secure an MBBS or BDS seat in Kerala
• Access to seats vacated by other candidates
• Lower competition than earlier rounds
• Potential to secure a college previously out of reach
• Strategic preference ordering can maximize your chances

Common mistakes to avoid during registration

Many candidates miss the stray vacancy round simply because they forget the deadline or assume they are ineligible. Do not make this mistake—if you do not have an active allotment from Phase I, II, or III, you should register. Another common error is failing to review the vacancy list before entering preferences. Without knowing which colleges have seats, you may waste your choices on colleges with no openings.

A third mistake is entering preferences in the wrong order. Remember, the allotment algorithm works from your highest preference downward. If you list a college you are less interested in first, you may be allotted there even if a better college is available lower on your list. Finally, do not delay payment of the registration fee until the last moment. Technical glitches or payment delays could prevent your registration from being completed in time. Register and pay at least a day before the deadline.

• Do not assume you are ineligible without checking the rules
• Always review the vacancy list before entering preferences
• Enter colleges in strict order of your actual preference
• Pay the registration fee early, not on the last day
• Double-check your registration confirmation before the deadline

Frequently asked questions

If you are eligible and have not yet secured an MBBS or BDS seat in Kerala, register immediately for the stray vacancy round at cee.kerala.gov.in. The October 20 deadline is firm, and missing it will end your chances for this counselling cycle. Review the vacancy list carefully, enter your preferences in order of priority, and be ready to join your allotted college within the October 23–26 window.